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9/11/1981 - Treatment of the Central American Migrant: Another Mexican Contradiction by Kimberley A. Conroy

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS KAC Paseo Reforma Colonia Cuauhtmoc Mxico Mxico Treatment Centra American Migrant Another Mexican Contradcton Septembem Mr Peter Bird Martin Institute Current World Affairs Wheelock House West Wheel Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 Dear Peter Mexico contradictions It touts Ctself democracy while actual president handpicks successor Government officials abneauseum proclaim glories Mexican Revolution religi6usly ignoring studies which poorer stratum population living precarious tions their Revolutionary ancestors And recently despite Mexico S repeated declarations support sympathy peoples El Salvador repression ridden Guatemala treatment those either refuge within borders cross territory United States hospitable This June between Guatemalan peasants sought asylum Mexico border state Chiapas These people fleed after tortures killing government armed forces occured their villages surrounding Of villages which repression marked El Arbolito On June soldiers dressed peasants claiming Armed People Organization asking Shortly after leaving community returned uniform Those supposedly provided killed Several tortured public prior being fired During month Guatemalan refugees resided Chiapas Mexican government provided neither potable water housing materials Fortunately private humanitarian groups extend assistance doctor local government clinic could medicines extra supplies received despite Guatemalans presence Three children unable resist difficult living conditions before Mexican armed forces Kim Conroy fellow Institute Current World Affairs Mexico Her interest political economic situations Mexico Central America affect affected U S foreign policy KAC escort their country between July July Of those search solidarity support often publicly proclaimed Mexico allowed The official position Mexican government clear Minister Interior Enrique Olivares Santana stated What dealing massive internment which motivated promoted spirited obtaining piece national territory He would studied individually those warranting political asylum would granted Although Mexican government assured otherwise Guatemalans convinced punishment humiliati theit government would coming They claimem names first Guatemalans July included lists disappeared those killed Guatemalan Although nowhere dramatic government trmatment Central Americans bound found Mexico northern border contradiction internation stance The BaJa California California active crossing point those illegally attempting enter United States Mexico While Nicaraguans majority I lexican illegals detained Mexican U S migration forces during El Salvadoreans Guatemalans being second largest group The majority Central Americans cross Mexico without papers They bribe another before reaching northern border Many these bribes officers migration posts situated along various train routes north additional often other federal state municipal officials capitalize migrants precarious situation The bribes requested increase denomination nears U S border Near Guatemala while going Rosita final immigration Mexicali dollars If these bribes Central Americans picked within border region after paying Rosita quota imprisoned The prison personnel known share Central Americans remaining money lawyer charge between promising asylum return Regardless thing migrants El Salvador courtesy Mexican government Whle ticket San Salvador border cities 4exicali Tijuana costs approximately average there these people ranges between Some those fleeing their KAC countries their others services smuggler Even though there college students professors urban workers migration officials sides border maintain large majority peasant farmers increasingly accompanied their wives children The Central American migrants until enough caught The Tijuana prison El Ocho provides Central Americans potato Whatever addit ional comforts might carry price plate beans tortillas dollars mattress blanket local phone which should cents When entire families detained children infants juvenile center different Fortunately Central Americans lodged Mexicali prison enjoy better living conditions receive substantial oatmeal accompanied rolls morning beans afternoon The rexicali prison separate children their parents At present average loads shipped Baja California The Guatemalan border Once there Guatemalan government takes responsability their buses El Salvadoreans The El Salvadorean migrants reportedly undergone brutal interrogations their government arrival there allegations klled But those suffer consequences there little reason celebration everything owned Thus return resources which survive until found I asked Dr Snchez Valenzuela Delegate Migration Ministry Interior Mexicali Mexican government concerned about apprehending Central Americans obviously their United States thereby threatened occupy exican burdened Mexican social service programs We helping U S government They illegals We Mexicans going border being border But El Salvadoreans without papers Finally perhaps contradictory El Salvadoreans cross rexico legally carrying Mexican visas Although subjected extortion south central Mexico treated manner those without papers enter northern border region When questionned about Dr Ernesto Snchez Valenzue informed these people illegals He explained KAC Mexican visas specify exactly where travel Republic Further Central American relatives nearby Mexican towns traveling limited funds close border obvious planning cross That considered sufficient reason imprisoned subsequently deported My asserting never passport limited particular country asked I carried I relatives phase least Straight I I wrong immediately moved other points considered interesting I insisted The pattern repeated denial subsequent change topic Even exist which seems unlikely would completely unconstitutional particular criteria enforcing While Dr Snchez Valenzuela maintains Central American valid least dollars border St Primitivo Lomel highest level migration officer Tijuana claims quantity required Jos Luis Prez Cancbola director Center Investigation Study Migration Tijuana based group actively involved defense undocumented migrants spoke Zenith extortion prison conditions suffered migrants He concluded total hypocrisy Mexican government demanding humanitarian treatment undocumented workers given abuses Central Americans His organization publicize unenviable situation migrants And Central Americans increasing their should easier While Mexican autiorities detained El Salvadoreans U S detained This quite increase given U S authorities figure And caught U S Border Petrol estimates through The likely patterns escalation civil El Salvador intensification Guatemalan government repression could trigger sgnificant increases their emigrant population In perhaps sufficiently significant alter Mexican olicy Vis these Central Americans But again knows Mexico Of contradictions And perhaps reason acquired impressive ability It quite possible there resolutions Mexico contradiction concerning Central Americans Or possible resolution eases civil strife which forces those people north Received Hanover